Week 12: Mason Vs. Dizon, Superman Vs. Bizarro Superman?
November 23, 2008 on 11:08 am | In Uncategorized |Rod Marinelli did his best to re-make the Lions organization into a reasonable facsimile of his previous employer, and Sunday’s opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Marinelli’s efforts have obviously failed miserably, if an 0-10 records serves as any sort of indicator. The Lions roster is awash with Buccaneer flotsam, veteran players who were supposed to cement the organization, especially on defense, who have been generally disappointing.
Other than injured DE DeWayne White, it is arguable that all of the ex-Buccaneer acquisitions have been just as awful as anyone that Matt Millen would have normally signed as free agents. This an indictment of Marinelli, which will mark his soon to be finished three year tenure as the team’s head coach.
That brings us to a another “blacked-out” home contest as the Lions continue their march towards the once unfathomable, an 0-16 season record. To add to the torture, the Bucs are lead by ex-Lion QB Jeff Garcia, who has experienced a late career renaissance of sorts, much like several other grey-bearded, 35(+)-year old QB’s around the league, due to the dearth of quality QB talent entering the game. Garcia’s tenure in Detroit was not a good one, but he will likely enjoy his visit to Detroit this Sunday, though.
The Lions defense has been so bad, that they should negotiate a pre-game deal with their opponents stipulating that opposing QB’s who meet contract escalators (bonuses) due to enjoying abnormally large amounts of success against the Lions weak defense should actually tip the team. Most of the QB’s who have faced the Lions this season have enjoyed either season-high or career-high QB ratings.
Offensively, the Lions will be facing a very tough, playmaking defense, the kind that Rod Marinelli was supposed to be bringing with him to Detroit. The Bucs consistently pressure opposing QB’s and have LB’s and DB’s who are capable of keeping opponents contained, rarely allowing costly large-gaining plays.
Ultimately, I believe the game comes down to the Lions ability to stop the Buccaneers rushing game, with Earnest Graham finished for the season, “Cadillac” Williams limited, and Warrick Dunn continuing to survive in the NFL against all odds.
If Dunn keeps Buccaneer drives going, and FB B.J. Askew can contribute in goal-line and short-yardage situations, the Lions will be in for a long day. As good as Jeff Garcia is capable of playing, the Bucs are relatively short on weapons when it come to their passing attack.
Besides volatile Antonio Bryant, the Bucs depend upon Michael Clayton and rapidly-aging veterans Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard. Bucs TE Jerramy Stevens appears to be an emerging target for Garcia, too.
Ultimately, the Bucs will allow the Lions offense to take enough rope to hang themselves with, and the Bucs offense will be just effective enough to pull away in the 4th quarter.
Bucs 24 Lions 13
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Did Dizon get on the field today? Did Ernie try to play his position well, instead of everyones position poorly? Seemed like Kevin Smith was going to have a great stats game in the first half. Did they just stop giving him the ball?
Comment by Mike — November 23, 2008 #
I guess that Culpepper isn’t going to be the short term QB solution the Lions need. I didn’t catch the game, but listened to it on the radio, so I can’t say if it was as bad as it sounded. I had hopes that Culpepper could do the job enough for us to build a line around him. I guess those are dashed. I wonder what Rod is going to say this week? What absurdities will he spout now? What implements do the Lions need to pull themselves out of this mess? Maybe they just need to pull harder to get the other team to fall into the water hole instead of the Lions. What positives will he be able to pull out of this? Maybe he’ll say “Well, we played better than we have in previous first quarters” or “I thought that the first quarter went very well–just like our most recent practices (Which I have been very happy with)” or, maybe he’ll quote another successful leader, Warren G. Harding, and tell the press that he realizes that “This is a hell of place for a man like me to be.” Unreal.
Comment by Yukon Dan — November 23, 2008 #
I didn’t see the game, but I do know that Kevin Smith got dinged up. This team can’t handle adversity, nor can it maintain prosperity, either.
After coming strong out of the gates, they completely got dominated for 35 unanswered points. They WILL finish the season 0-16.
You would think that the Titans, after suffering their first loss, even on a short week of preparation, are really looking forward to absolutely putting it to the Lions, in a major way on Thanksgiving.
The Lions only excuse for not firing Rod Marinelli, amid a 1-18 stretch as coach, is that they have no suitable interim option currently on their coaching staff, and it wouldn’t make a bit of difference at this point anyways. Otherwise, Marinelli might be packing his bags as we speak.
Considering how bad Daunte Culpepper was today, the Lions have to being growing increasingly discouraged about what he may be able to provide them, both immediately and for the future.
Sims, in my opinion, has likely been struggling with injury this season. I agree that he has overplayed and often been out of position, but I also believe that he has not been as explosive, which would seem to indicate an injury.
Dizon was a reach pick. Given the Lions luck, he’ll be an excellent career special-teamer who will never fully emerge as a defensive contributor. Alas.
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